Hi Shaunna!
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! There are so many reasons to participate in a
runDisney event. Some are looking for a new challenge, others love designing and running in a costume, and I need a big race to motivate me to run through cold and snowy Indiana. Some run just for the characters!
While the specific characters during each race can vary and are a surprise up until the race itself, you can count on several character stops per event. In my experience, if rare characters bring you a thrill, the
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January seems to offer the most diverse and exclusive array of Disney friends. In 2019 for example, the 10K included Chip and Dale as Rescue Rangers, as well as Ralph and Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph.
The Disney Princess Half Marathon features friends of the princess variety of course, so these tend to be less rare sightings. My family enjoys the
Star Wars Rival Run Weekend in April, and this year the Ewoks were my favorite!
Before the race start, there are usually a few select character locations in the pre-race area. I recommend arriving early, think 3 am, as lines can get long. During the race, you are welcome to stop for a photo with the characters if time allows. You can use your cellphone for a quick selfie, and some stations will have a
PhotoPass Photographer available. I highly recommend
Memory Maker if you'll be participating in the races! Due to time constraints, and runners needing to stay within pacing guidelines, character interactions should be limited to a hug and a photo. Although this could change,
runDisney has also added character stops at the end of the races over the past few seasons. When I am mid-race, I find it hard to stop for a photo as I am in the running frame of mind, and I am always concerned about the pace requirement. This is why I take full advantage of the character meets before and after the race itself. While I haven’t specifically seen someone get an autograph at this point, as long as it is after the race, you could certainly ask.
I hope this helps with your planning, and I hope you’ll let us know what other questions you have as you get ready for your
runDisney event!
Run like the wind, Bullseye!
- Kate